IMPORTANT: FREE P&P TO UK ADDRESSES (AS REGISTERED WITH PAYPAL) WILL INCLUDE 2ND CLASS RECORDED DELIVERY. THE OFFER RELATES ONLY TO AUCTION ITEMS ENDING AT A VALUE BELOW £51 AND, ABOVE THAT VALUE, THE BUYER WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXPENSE OF SPECIAL DELIVERY P&P.

  What's on offer?: Almost without the need for introduction, here we have a SIMPLY SUPERB NUGGET from the BLUES scene - particularly as this copy is an ORIGINAL FIRST UK FACTORY SAMPLE 10-INCH PRESSING in INCREDIBLE condition!!!

 

A SIMPLY ESSENTIAL DISC FOR TRUE BLUES HISTORIANS, FANS and 50s COLLECTORS IN GENERAL!

 

Artist: LEADBELLY

(Hudie Leadbetter, Big Bill Broonzy)

Title: Leadbelly

Label: Capitol LC 6597 (UK Original 10" FACTORY SAMPLE)

 

Matrices: H1 369Y-1B/H2 369Z-1B

Stampers: '1' at 9 o'clock, 'G' at 3 o'clock

 

 

 

A TRULY STUNNING, 60 YEAR-OLD DISC WITH A FANTASTIC HERITAGE - EVERY COLLECTOR'S DREAM!!

 

Wow!!!  Issued in the UK in 1953, almost four years after the death of "LEADBELLY" (born Hudie Ledbetter), this 10" LP is remarkable not only because of the striking portrait of Ledbetter and his famous 12-string guitar, but also because of the accompaniment on the recordings. In the liner notes, PAUL MASON HOWARD is credited with playing the zither on “these historic performances.” The interplay of zither with Ledbetter’s booming 12-string guitar is highly enjoyable and these recordings (made in California in 1944) showcase Leadbelly in top form. Fact is that, rather than a zither, Howard is actually playing the Dolceola and these recordings are most likely the first commercial recordings of said instrument!!!  The truly amazing solo on the duo’s recording of 'Ella Speed' highlights the unique tone of the Dolceola!!!

The content of this fantastic LP is what undoubtedly inspired CYRIL DAVIES in his Blues Incorporated days and beyond!!!!  You can well imagine Alexis and Cyril listening to the tracks ahead of figuring out how they would put their own 'spin' on them.  In reality, Cyril was a Leadbelly 'nut' who (according to no lesser than the great BIG BILL BROONZY) was a more than passable imitator of Mr Ledbetter!  Take This Hammer had been covered by The Ken Colyer Skiffle Group (with Alexis on guitar) back in 1954, Ella Speed by The Alexis Korner Breakdown Group (with Cyril on guitar and harmonica) in 1957, Backwater Blues by The Alexis Korner Trio in 1966 and Sweet Mary by The Cyril Davies Rhythm & Blues All-Stars in 1963!!! Many collectors of British R&B discs will be aware that Sweet Mary was also covered by THE ARTWOODS as their debut release for Decca in 1964!!!!

This incredible, 60 year-old gem came from the collection of the late CHARLES FOX; a Jazz critic who for many years lodged at the house of the legendary ALEXIS KORNER. So, whilst there is no way of knowing for sure, it is perfectly plausible (almost certain, in fact) that this disc was once owned by Alexis and then subsequently found its way into one of Charles' boxes by mistake??? Who knows......

So, bid now to win this gem or, after the auction has ended, you can sit back in your chair and wonder how you managed to such a MONSTER BLUES RARITY pass you by!!! Ask yourself when you honestly expect to see another one of these come up for sale like this??!!

  Use the Auctionplayer to hear for yourself just how fantastic this LP truly is!!!

 

As you'll see from the photo, this is unconditionally guaranteed to be the ORIGINAL 1953 UK 1st FACTORY SAMPLE 10" pressing made with machine-stamped matrices, so you can forget about having to settle for one of those dodgy so-called "limited re-pressings" (many of which are actually bootlegs) that are flooding the market.

 

A TRULY fantastic and landmark LP, any fan of Leadbelly, Alexis Korner, Cyril Davies, the Blues scene or 50s/60s music in general will simply have to have this item in their collection!!!!

Grade (labels): The classic purple labels with silver print and embossed 'XT' tax code are in AS NEW condition; absolutely NO wear and NO spindle trails!!!

Grade (vinyl): Housed within its original, super crisp EMI Group polylined bag, this nugget is truly incredible and very strictly graded at MINT!!!! Looks like it had never before seen a turntable prior to my ultra-careful play test!!!  The platter sits perfectly flat on the turntable and the playing surface has a wonderful sheen!!!  Of course, with the hyper-sensitivity of modern styli and amplifiers, any lucky winning bidder would need to accept the likelihood of a 60 year-old hunk of vinyl producing a touch of static here and there.  Good luck in finding another one of these nuggets......... they just do NOT turn up in this format and in this archive-ready shape!!!!

 

Grade (sleeve): This fantastic gem is housed within its fully original 1st edition WDW (Wood, Rozelaar and Wilkes) laminated and scalloped flipback sleeve!!!!!  The whole thing is in truly fantastic MINT minus shape with just a very minor imperfection at the bottom front corner of the open edge (see photo).  Fact is it's hard to imagine ever finding another as fine as this!!!

 

Why buy?: This is an absolute LANDMARK MONSTER of a BLUES gem and always so incredibly sought-after in this condition!! Truly a KILLINGLY RARE LP and VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND like this, don't miss this incredible example as it might be your only chance to buy an ORIGINAL 1953 UK 1st LP pressing of "Leadbelly" by Leadbelly in incredible condition!!!

 

Don't forget: Look to see if I have other rare items on auction at the present time. 

 

Check out my feedback and be sure of a great product and service.  Happy bidding!!!

 

BEFORE you bid, please read the following Payment and Shipping terms very carefully and, quite simply, don't make a bid if you're not happy with them:

 

Payment: UK cheques or UK direct bank transfers greatly preferred.  Of course, PayPal is accepted but bidders must accept the associated, non-negotiable shipping terms as stated below in "Shipping".

 

Shipping: Kindly note that the STAMP cost that appears on the label outside of a package absolutely does NOT represent the actual cost of shipping an item!!! For example, each item I sell is carefully packaged inside a PVC sleeve, with factory-cut cardboard stiffeners either side and (to ensure the item arrives in the condition it leaves) shipped individually in a brand new record mailer; unlike some other sellers I do NOT use poor packaging with scrap cardboard - or worse still NO cardboard - inside!

 

I cannot accept any responsibility for payments/items lost or damaged and not covered by adequate insurance. If you do insist on using PayPal through the eBay checkout, the consequence of PayPal's rigid conditions is that all items must be sent by an adequately insured shipping method with proof of delivery; no exceptions. IMPORTANT: FREE P&P TO UK ADDRESSES (AS REGISTERED WITH PAYPAL) WILL INCLUDE 2ND CLASS RECORDED DELIVERY. THE OFFER RELATES ONLY TO AUCTION ITEMS ENDING AT A VALUE BELOW £51 AND, ABOVE THAT VALUE, THE BUYER WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXPENSE OF SPECIAL DELIVERY P&P (cost £8.95). For overseas buyers shipping will mean International Signed-For Airmail for any value.

 

I do NOT allow personal collection.

 

Note: I'm just a private individual selling off his private record collection gathered over 30+ years.  I am NOT a business!!!  I unreservedly retain the right to cancel bids from known defaulters or timewasters.  The items I offer for auction are rare and of the highest quality, so please bid with respect